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The University of Maryland Celebrates 150 Years. Happy Birthday, Maryland!
On March 6, 1856 the Maryland General Assembly chartered a new institution of higher education, the Maryland Agricultural College. Three years later, on October 5, 1859 the doors were thrown open to the first students—eager to learn about agriculture and engineering.
Over the years the Maryland Agricultural College grew into the Maryland State College, and finally, the University of Maryland.
Today, as the flagship of the state's 13-campus university system, Maryland counts 2,874 faculty members who teach 25,000 undergraduate students, and nearly 10,000 graduate students. There are more than 100 majors to choose from. The University of Maryland is one of the nation's top research institutions.
"Our 150-year history projects a dramatic transformation of the University's mission and contributions. It's quite a story," says University President C. D. (Dan) Mote Jr. "It's time to celebrate this history and especially the University's contributions to the people and State of Maryland. Our future portends even greater service to the State as we become a model research university for the 21st century."
Prof. Jim Harris, dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, is chairing the campus-wide committee planning the year-long anniversary. He says that in many ways this is a celebration of "firsts" at Maryland: "among them the first graduating class; the establishment of the individual colleges and schools; the admission of the first women, minorities and international students; the first graduate degrees, and many, many more 'firsts.' In doing so, we celebrate the students, faculty and staff who achieved so much at the same time that we look forward to future successes in every field."
Celebration Plans
Starting this fall, and for the next year, the University of Maryland will celebrate its anniversary from one end of campus to the other. Everything officially kicks off in Baltimore with the Maryland-Navy football game September 3 at Raven's M&T Bank Stadium. This game—already a sellout—is the reinstitution of a traditional rivalry going back more than one hundred years.
Other events being planned include:
- An exhibit of historic and contemporary photographs opens September 29th in the Stamp Student Union's Union Gallery. "Moving Pictures" highlights not only the history of the university, but also its status as a model for the modern research university. The exhibit features contemporary photographs by John Consoli and archival images from University Archives.
- A Fear the Turtle Sculpture Exhibition and Auction: Fifty "Fighting Testudos," cast in resin, will be decorated by a selected group of campus and community artists. The works will be on display throughout the school year and auctioned off at a concluding gala event in the fall of 2006.
- A Charter Day Celebration: On March 6, 2006 there will be a campus-wide birthday party.
- A 150th Anniversary Book and Video: The University of Maryland will debut a "coffee-table" photographic history book, and documentary video on Charter Day, March 6.
- Forum and Lecture Series: Beginning this fall, the University will host a series of provocative discussions with prominent faculty on the role and responsibility of the modern research university. The first event is September 9, with the launch of the new START terrorism research center.
- Other events around campus will include outstanding performances at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center as well as exhibits, lectures and histories in virtually all 13 of the academic Colleges, and much, much more.
As University Archivist Anne Turkos says, "When you examine the hopes and dreams of the founders of the Maryland Agricultural College, and see how far the institution has come in the last 150 years, you cannot help but be excited about the next 150!"
All events and activities are now available on a special 150th Anniversary webpage. The website will also have a host of historical information about Maryland, including a timeline, archival materials, multimedia, links to other Maryland historical sites at many of the colleges, and much more!
Please click HERE for Spanish Version
For more information, please send email to: 150years@umd.edu, or contact:
Dave Ottalini
Senior Media Relations Associate
University of Maryland
301.405.4076
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The 150th Celebration project has ended.
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